Printing machine for golf balls and the like



" .-:Aug. 4, 1931.- H. w. VORBECK 1,817,788

PRINTING MACHINE FOR GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 30, 1929 hfhilbrbeclr Patented Aug. 4, 1931 HERMAN VISNER VCR-BECK, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO PRINTING MACHINE FOR GOLF BALLS. AND THE LIKE Application filed April 30,

My invention relates to machines for printing names or other characters on golf balls and the like and its primary object is the provision of such a machine whereby the ball will be rolled under pressure over the face of the type.

Another object which I have in view is the provision of adjusting mechanism whereby the pressure on the ball against 0 the type face may be adjusted to any desired degree.

Another of my objects is the provision of an exceedingly simple mechanism in which the carriage slides on anti-friction devices so that the printer may be manipulated with the least amount of efiort.

Since the device is to be used on counters and other places which are often in the view of the customer, it is my object to so design the machine that it will be attractive in appearance as well as efficient in operation.

Having in View these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following 2 description, I will now refer to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the entire machine, a portion of the handle being broken away.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the machine showing particularly the adjusting mechanism for varying the pressure on the golf ball.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the golf ball in its travel over the type face.

The base 10 is adapted to be secured to a counter or other support by passing screws or the like through the apertures in the ears 4 11. Projecting from the base 10 are four standards 12 which have reduced screw threaded portions at their upper extremities for receiving nuts 13. The two lower tracks 14 are preferably integral with the 4 base and they terminate at the standards 12. Spaced above the tracks are 'two upper tracks 15 resting on the shoulders of the standards 12 and secured by means of the bolts 13. Both tracks are grooved as shown in the sectional view in Figure 2. The ball 1929. "Serial No. 359,240.

track 16 is also integral with the base 10 and it is provided in its bottom portion with a narrow slit 17 for receiving type or a slu 18 or any other suitable device for ma ing an impression of the desired design in the ball. The groove 17 has a vertical wall at its forward end but the rear wall is curved so that the slug may be easily removed from the slit.

Above the ball track 16 is a carriage including a curved head plate 19. This head plate is secured to side plates 20 which project into the spaces between the lower and upper tracks 14 and 15. The side plates are grooved in both their upper and lower surfaces to form raceways for the balls 21 so that the carriage in sliding back and forth will move with little or no friction. The head plate 19 is secured to the side plates 20 by means of four bolts 22 having thumb nuts 28 at their upper extremities. The turning down of the thumb nuts will force the head plate 19 downwardly to increase the pressure on the ball; Inorder to overcome the weight of the headpiece when it is desired to release the pressure on the ball, IYprovide coil sitioned within sockets in the head plate 19, all as best shown in Figure 2. The head plate 19 maythus be adjusted almost in: stantly to either increase or decrease the ressure under which the ball will roll'.

'springs2s surrounding the bolts 22 and po- It will be evident that when the head plate with the the ball 19 is moved in a forward direction ball underneath and under pressure, will be rolled over 18, and if the slug has beenproperly inked, the characters on the type face will be impressed and inked in the surface of the ball. In order to make this reciprocation of the head plate 19 as convenient as possible,-I provide a lever 25 which is pivotally secured between a pair rear extremity of the base 10. To this lever I secure a link 27 having its forward end pivotally connected between the cars 28 pro jecting upwardly from the head plate 19.

r The golf ball 29 or other ball is placed underneath the forward edge of the head plate 19 when the head plate is inits rearmost the type faceof the slug of upstanding cars 26 at the by the use of bers slidable in the tracks position and after the type or slug has been inserted in the slit 17 The face of the type or slug is then inked and the lever 25 is pulled forwardly to roll the ball over the type face. The compression should be such that the type face will be entirely embedded within the yieldablesurface of the ball when the ball is rolling over the slug or type. The forward movement of the lever forces the ball to roll the entire length over the type face and the ball will then be ejected immediately from the track 16 where it may be picked up, after which the machine is ready for the next ball. It will thus be seen that the operation of the machine is expeditious.

Any kind of type or slug may be employed. Likewise the impression made :upon the ball may be made with any suitable kind of ink in any desired. color or it may be made golf leaf or other metal leaf. Nor do I intend to limit myself to a machine for printing golf balls only since the machine will function as well on base balls and other round objects.

T-Iaving thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a base provided with a groove adapted to receive a ball for rolling movement, the bottom of said groove 1 being provided with a slit for receiving and supporting a line of type, a grooved carriage having a spring pressed portion for compressing the ball against the type at a uniform pressure, means for adjustably vary ing the pressure of said carriage against the ball, spring means opposing the pressure of said carriage against the ball, and means for moving said carriage over said base in a lengthwise direction of the groove thereon to roll the ball over the line of type,

2. In a device of the character described,

a base having a pair of upstanding flanges at the lateral edges thereof, said flanges being provided with horizontal tracks, a grooved member projecting upwardly from said base between said flanges, said grooved member being adapted to receive a ball and being provided with a slit for receiving type, a carriage having laterally projecting memof said flanges,

antifriction devices between said laterally projecting members and said flanges, said carriage including a curved head plate adjustably secured to said laterally projecting members, and manually operable means for sliding said carriage over said base, the arrangement permitting the insertion of a ball or the like between said grooved members and said curved head plate whereby the ball will be rolled under pressure over the face gf the type in the slit of said grooved mem- 3. A printing machine for golf balls and the like, said printing machine including two rectilinear members slidable lengthwise relative to each other, manually operable means having connections with both of said members for causing relative slidable movement therebetween, said two members being provided with complementary grooves for receiving the ball, adjustable means for maintaining a constant pressure of said two members on the ball during the rolling thereof, and means for securing a line of type to one of said members in the path of the rolling ball.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERMAN WISNER VORBECK. 

